We tend to attribute tempura cooking to the Japanese, right? Well actually it all was a Portuguese innovation. And the evidence lies in old Moorish cookbooks from the 13th century that feature tempura recipes.

2. Bologna

The bologna we eat today has nothing to do with the food it’s originally based on. The name of this food is named after the city in Italy, but the meat it is most similar to mortadella.

3. Sauerkraut

‘Sauerkraut’ means ‘sour cabbage’ in German so you might be tempted to believe that it was a German invention. Actually, it came about around 2000 years ago and was highly enjoyed by the laborers building the Great Wall. The origins of this food are Chinese.

4. Ketchup

Ketchup it’s a featured condiment for almost everything, from meatloaf to eggs, therefore you could easily believe that it’s an American invention. However, ketchup originated from a different type of sauce (made from fermented anchovies) from China.

5. Maraschino cherries

Maraschino cherries have an Italian scent but they actually come from Croatia. Originally, it was a liquor’s name made from the Croatian Marasca cherries.

6. Curry powder

That curry powder we know today has nothing to do with the original spice. Heavily influenced by the British in India it isn’t referred to as curry. Therefore, the curry we all know has nothing to do with Indian curry, it’s more of a British curry.

7. Coney dog

This type of food might be attributed to Coney Island but its true origins lie in Michigan.

8. French dip

The French dip sandwich is not from France. Surprise, surprise! Sadly, or not, it was invented at Phillipe’s in Los Angeles, in 1918.

9. Baked Alaska

This dessert was invented in New York City in 1868, the same year US purchased Alaska from Russia.